Two events which each summer attract thousands to the Elm City will be held in the coming weeks. The Pilot Pen International Tennis Tournament will take place Aug. 9-17 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale. Coinciding with the latter part of the tournament will be the New Haven street festival, which will occur Aug. 14-17 on and near Chapel Street.
This year the Pilot Pen International Tennis Tournament once again boasts the world's top male tennis players. Fifty-six competitors -- including Jim Courier, Richard Krajicek and Alex O'Brien -- will compete in singles and doubles-team matches for a total of $1.04 million in prizes.
The tournament is currently in its 25th year. Formerly known as the Volvo International, it was renamed last year, when title sponsorship changed hands. This is the eighth consecutive year it is being played in the 15,000-seat Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale, the largest stadium on the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour.
As in previous years, the Association of Yale Alumni (AYA) is sponsoring special services and activities for alumni and other Yale affiliates, such as the AYA hospitality tent, located on the grounds of the tennis center, 45 Yale Ave. The tent will be in operation every day of the tournament from 8:30 a.m. to one-half hour after the conclusion of evening play. The air-conditioned tent will sport closed-circuit broadcast of the matches. Visitors also can purchase lunch and dinner, and full bar service will be available. Other AYA offerings include tennis clinics with well-known players and game analysis with tournament referees.
In addition, the Yale section of the stadium has been expanded this year. Several options are available to those who wish to purchase tickets for four or more sessions. Option 1, for early rounds (four sessions) on Monday and Tuesday, costs $110. Option 2, for four mid-week sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, costs $225. Option 3, for six sessions on finals weekend, Friday-Sunday, is $475. Option 4 spans the full tournament (10 sessions) and costs $675. Checks should be made payable to the Association of Yale Alumni and should be mailed to P.O. Box 209010, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-9010. For more information, call the AYA at 432-1936.
Along with the three players named previously, other Pilot Pen International competitors include Byron Black, Sergi Bruguera, Albert Costa, Slava Dosedel, M.K. Goellner, Paul Haarhuis, Tim Henman, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Andrei Medvedev, Mark Philippoussis, David Prinosil, Patrick Rafter, Marc Rosset, Javier Sanchez, Sjeng Schalken, Jan Siemerink and Daniel Vacek.
Qualifying rounds will take place Aug. 9 and 10 at 10 a.m. Main draw sessions will be held Aug. 11-17, with day sessions at 11 a.m. and night sessions at 7:15 p.m. Finals on Aug. 17 will be held at 1:45 p.m.
Both ESPN and ESPN2 will broadcast the tournament. ESPN will offer live coverage 1-3 p.m. Aug. 11-15, and 2-4 p.m. on Aug. 16. A tape-delay broadcast will air 5:30-7 p.m. on Aug. 17. Live coverage on ESPN2 will air 7:30-9:30 p.m. Aug. 13-16.
For more information or to order tickets, call 776-7331 or 1- 888-99-PILOT. The latter is a toll-free number.
New Haven's annual summer street festival -- sponsored again this year by Elm City Brewing -- will take place during the last four days of the tennis tournament, Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 14-17. Held in downtown New Haven along Chapel Street between Howe and College streets, the festival features art demonstrations, entertainment, food, crafts, contests and more. The festival is being presented by the Cultural Affairs Department of the City of New Haven and Southern New England Telephone. Yale is also among the festival sponsors.
"Each year the Elm City Brewing Summertime Street Festival -- the summer's biggest block party -- plays a role in shining a positive light on New Haven," says Lauren D'Alessandro, director of cultural affairs for the city. "Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children from the region line Chapel Street to enjoy great food and entertainment in a safe, pleasant environment."
Highlights of the festival include a dance floor and block parties at Chapel West; live music on four stages; Kids' Day on Sunday; the New Haven Animal Shelter Alumni Pet Parade; the Elm City Brew Pub; and a musical performance on the Green. New to the festival this year are an interactive computer exhibit, a special "Multi- cultural Day" on Saturday, and a giant video screen.
Festival hours are 5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1-11 p.m. Saturday and 1-10 p.m. on Sunday. For more information about the festival, call the Office of Cultural Affairs Events Line at 946-7172.